IPSWICH Town bosses are today preparing to launch a new offensive aimed at persuading season ticket holders to keep the faith with the Tractor Boys.The club is putting in press advertisements next week appealing to fans to renew their tickets as the new-look team gets into gear.

IPSWICH Town bosses are today preparing to launch a new offensive aimed at persuading season ticket holders to keep the faith with the Tractor Boys.

The club is putting in press advertisements next week appealing to fans to renew their tickets as the new-look team gets into gear.

In an open letter signed by chairman David Sheepshanks, chief executive Derek Bowden and manager Joe Royle, they appeal to fans to renew their tickets when details of next year's season tickets are sent out next week.

This year there have been almost 19,000 season ticket-holders who signed up after last year's great season which saw the club come within spitting distance of an automatic promotion place.

Financial pressures and the desire of some of last season's stars to take their chance in the Premiership forced Royle into a major rebuilding programme.

It was only at the start of 2006 that the new-look team really started to click - and now Town are hoping to make a late bid for a play-off spot.

The club hopes to retain most of the current side next season - but needs the commitment of fans because the money raised from season ticket sales is vital in planning for the future.

The open letter says: “A commitment to Ipswich Town in buying your season ticket will be the biggest single factor in enabling the club to retain and build upon the current playing squad for the 2006/7 season.”

During the autumn there was some dissatisfaction among supporters and claims from people that they would not be renewing - but that may have changed now, especially in the wake of the Town's victory in the East Anglian derby at Carrow Road.

Now the board is hoping that the optimism will extend to fans' cheque books - and that a bumper take-up will allow the club to hang on to its young guns.

The players are also doing their bit to encourage fans - by attending signing sessions at Planet Blue stores in Portman Road and at the Buttermarket shopping centre.

There was certainly no lack of enthusiasm as queues built up to get the signatures of Danny Haynes, Owen Garvan and Sito Castro.